clean install *HOW TO ACTIVATE

So what do you do if you have to change the motherboard because the upgrade goosed you're computer?

Essentially I upgraded to windows 10..PC said nope crashed never booted again.

Do I simply install windows 8.1 again then do the whole upgrade thing again? Obviously on the new hardware.

I mean there has to be a better way of them doing this cause that's just a lot of time wasted.

DeaconFrost said:

Brink gave the explanation above. You'll need a previous version of 7/8/8/1 installed and activated first. I'd install Windows 7 clean, and then activate it with your existing key. Once that's done, upgrade to Windows 10 and that will activate. Going forward, you'd be able to do a clean install of Windows 10 on that computer.

This worked for me first time.


Francis

Maggelan said:

Do I simply install windows 8.1 again then do the whole upgrade thing again? Obviously on the new hardware.

This would be correct as far as anyone knows. It adds some extra time at first, but at least you only have to do it once per machine.

I'm building a new tower now. I'll install 8.1 to test out all the hardware and make sure the tower is ready. Then I'll do the upgrade to Windows 10. Once activated, I'm going to clear the drive and install 10 clean and be done with it. It is extra work, but it's giving me a built-in testing method for my new hardware.